In the four days that I've been here, everyone has talked to me about the weather.
The director of the London program, our American advisor, our tour guide, Dilys, Steve, Gwyneth, Katie and Rachael's homestay people, and well, really anyone British who I've had more than a five second interaction with. "It's flooding in the West country...it's been raining for days... worst weather we've had in ages... we've broken all the records for rain... worst rain in a hundred years..."
I'm not quite sure what to say other than, "Oh... I'm... sorry?"
We've figured out the fastest route from our house to the school, and I've nearly perfected the "I'm a stoic Greek statue" face that most people on the tube have perfected. It's rather fun to practice. Also, the tube is a fabulous place to eavesdrop ( I know that half of you just heard Sam Gamgee in your head...). Yesterday I listened to this fascinating conversation between an Irish girl and a very embarrassed/slightly annoyed/wanting to be helpful British woman. The Irish girl was trying to choose between her head and her heart. I'm not quite sure if she was an actor wanting to be a lawyer, or a lawyer wanting to be an actor... but best wishes for her, and it made for an interesting ride.
Yesterday we went to school terribly early (I had to be up at 815) and had some more orientation stuff. Talked about travel, and then went on a tour around our Bloomsbury (Where our school is). It seems that there was a famous author that lived on every street, or so the plaques say. We saw Dickens' house, and also the pub that housed the famous literary, Bloomsbury Group. It was quite a lovely walk. After that we did a quick tour of the British Museum. I thought the DC museums were big... This was so huge we could fit my whole college campus inside the building. Sadly, my phone died just after we got in, so I only got a few pictures, but we plan on going back often. While there we did get to see the Rosetta Stone (But, unlike the computer program, it did not ask me to recite verbs back at it..), the Elgin Marbles (Bought from the Turks in Greece, by the British, but now the Greeks want them back and there's a big controversy) we also saw some other... Greek things that Tali hyperventilated over, but which I can't remember the name of anymore... they were interesting anyway.
After the British museum we got some coffee and waited around to have a buffet dinner with our profs... well, I would not call it "Dinner" as it was really just some appetizers. Went home after that and slept soundly for many hours.
Today, due to the tube strike (don't ask, something silly about ticket offices...), we had no orientation (or tomorrow) so we slept in, had a leisurely breakfast and then Katie, Rachael and I, walked around Crouch End. I got some yummy scones at a bakery, we had lunch in a nice little cafe, and then got some much needed groceries. We've spent the afternoon trying to figure out where to go for spring break... haven't decided yet, but I'll let you all know once I do, and you guys can tell me how you're eaten up with envy because of it... ;)
My fingers are really cold because they don't really use heat here. Well they do a bit, but because fuel is so expensive, they don't use it much.
Hope you lot are all safe, don't get hit by any trees in that ice storm(Well, the Maryland-ers). I'll post again in a few days, perhaps after I've gone to the Notting Hill market... then you really should be envious, because it shall be fabulous!
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